when I was in high school I could read a fantasy novel and what felt like minutes
fantasy novel and what felt like minutes
fantasy novel and what felt like minutes and then forget the homework I did the
and then forget the homework I did the
and then forget the homework I did the night before as soon as I walked into
night before as soon as I walked into
night before as soon as I walked into the classroom I always loved literature
the classroom I always loved literature
the classroom I always loved literature and I considered myself pretty good at
and I considered myself pretty good at
and I considered myself pretty good at writing my own creative pieces one night
writing my own creative pieces one night
writing my own creative pieces one night during the end of my junior year my
during the end of my junior year my
during the end of my junior year my mother came downstairs at the witching
mother came downstairs at the witching
mother came downstairs at the witching hour to find me sitting at the computer
hour to find me sitting at the computer
hour to find me sitting at the computer sobbing because I couldn’t figure out
sobbing because I couldn’t figure out
sobbing because I couldn’t figure out how to start big and begin my research
how to start big and begin my research
how to start big and begin my research paper starting in elementary school
paper starting in elementary school
paper starting in elementary school teachers found their own labels for me
teachers found their own labels for me
teachers found their own labels for me talented but lazy she’d do so well if
talented but lazy she’d do so well if
talented but lazy she’d do so well if she would just hand in her assignments
she would just hand in her assignments
she would just hand in her assignments on time extremely disorganized one of my
on time extremely disorganized one of my
on time extremely disorganized one of my brothers and my favorite was wasted
brothers and my favorite was wasted
brothers and my favorite was wasted potential maybe you or people you care
potential maybe you or people you care
potential maybe you or people you care about have had these labels applied to
about have had these labels applied to
about have had these labels applied to them maybe you’ve labeled people as such
them maybe you’ve labeled people as such
them maybe you’ve labeled people as such it’s easy to dismiss students strengths
it’s easy to dismiss students strengths
it’s easy to dismiss students strengths when their weaknesses seem so
when their weaknesses seem so
when their weaknesses seem so insurmountable it’s easy to dismiss them
insurmountable it’s easy to dismiss them
insurmountable it’s easy to dismiss them in ourselves when my mother found me
in ourselves when my mother found me
in ourselves when my mother found me crying at the computer that night even
crying at the computer that night even
crying at the computer that night even after transferring me from public to
after transferring me from public to
after transferring me from public to private school we knew we had to seek
private school we knew we had to seek
private school we knew we had to seek more help that much more had to change
more help that much more had to change
more help that much more had to change we were referred to a certified school
we were referred to a certified school
we were referred to a certified school psychiatrist for educational testing he
psychiatrist for educational testing he
psychiatrist for educational testing he ran me through 16 hours or so of these
ran me through 16 hours or so of these
ran me through 16 hours or so of these this educational testing so that we
this educational testing so that we
this educational testing so that we could find out the specifics of how I
could find out the specifics of how I
could find out the specifics of how I learned what I needed to do in order to
learned what I needed to do in order to
learned what I needed to do in order to succeed but not everyone can afford
succeed but not everyone can afford
succeed but not everyone can afford private schools sympathetic teachers or
private schools sympathetic teachers or
private schools sympathetic teachers or a certified school psychiatrist or even
a certified school psychiatrist or even
a certified school psychiatrist or even conceive of them as options so what I
conceive of them as options so what I
conceive of them as options so what I want to do tonight is to give you some
want to do tonight is to give you some
want to do tonight is to give you some steps you can take today now in the next
steps you can take today now in the next
steps you can take today now in the next few days whether that be for you as a
few days whether that be for you as a
few days whether that be for you as a learner an educator a parent or some
learner an educator a parent or some
learner an educator a parent or some combination by telling you about my own
combination by telling you about my own
combination by telling you about my own experiences and the decisions I made in
experiences and the decisions I made in
experiences and the decisions I made in order to succeed my learning difference
order to succeed my learning difference
order to succeed my learning difference begins with executive functioning
begins with executive functioning
begins with executive functioning organizational skills and a processing
organizational skills and a processing
organizational skills and a processing difference
difference
difference by processing I mean that I tend to
by processing I mean that I tend to
by processing I mean that I tend to internalize and absorb information at a
internalize and absorb information at a
internalize and absorb information at a slower rate than what we would consider
slower rate than what we would consider
slower rate than what we would consider the average person’s processing speed to
the average person’s processing speed to
the average person’s processing speed to be I can read something and write
be I can read something and write
be I can read something and write something and say something even though
something and say something even though
something and say something even though I tend to talk pretty fast and can think
I tend to talk pretty fast and can think
I tend to talk pretty fast and can think on the spot but I can’t delve into
on the spot but I can’t delve into
on the spot but I can’t delve into deeper analysis in the worst case
deeper analysis in the worst case
deeper analysis in the worst case scenario you could ask me what I just
scenario you could ask me what I just
scenario you could ask me what I just read or studied or written or have
read or studied or written or have
read or studied or written or have written but I wouldn’t be able to recall
written but I wouldn’t be able to recall
written but I wouldn’t be able to recall a single detail from something I read
a single detail from something I read
a single detail from something I read seconds minutes hours before so how do
seconds minutes hours before so how do
seconds minutes hours before so how do you trick your own brain if your brain
you trick your own brain if your brain
you trick your own brain if your brain tells you yep you got this
tells you yep you got this
tells you yep you got this you’re 100% ready to go then how do you
you’re 100% ready to go then how do you
you’re 100% ready to go then how do you know your brain is wrong well let me
know your brain is wrong well let me
know your brain is wrong well let me tell you something the way your brain
tell you something the way your brain
tell you something the way your brain tells you things isn’t you the way
tells you things isn’t you the way
tells you things isn’t you the way you’re wired isn’t you the only thing
you’re wired isn’t you the only thing
you’re wired isn’t you the only thing that makes up the yunus is itself the
that makes up the yunus is itself the
that makes up the yunus is itself the unis the you that you decided you wanted
unis the you that you decided you wanted
unis the you that you decided you wanted to accept and be maybe you’ve said to
to accept and be maybe you’ve said to
to accept and be maybe you’ve said to yourself my learning differences and the
yourself my learning differences and the
yourself my learning differences and the way I learned does not define me or
way I learned does not define me or
way I learned does not define me or maybe you say it factors into my
maybe you say it factors into my
maybe you say it factors into my personality and led me to where I am
personality and led me to where I am
personality and led me to where I am today
today
today or maybe you’re somewhere in between or
or maybe you’re somewhere in between or
or maybe you’re somewhere in between or some combination of these two but what I
some combination of these two but what I
some combination of these two but what I would like to do is to show you that
would like to do is to show you that
would like to do is to show you that it’s not you that were there learning
it’s not you that were there learning
it’s not you that were there learning difference that makes you you it’s the
difference that makes you you it’s the
difference that makes you you it’s the acceptance of yourself that both these
acceptance of yourself that both these
acceptance of yourself that both these minds as there any of these mindsets
minds as there any of these mindsets
minds as there any of these mindsets require certain knowledge and acceptance
require certain knowledge and acceptance
require certain knowledge and acceptance of knowing that you learn differently
of knowing that you learn differently
of knowing that you learn differently from the way everyone around you seems
from the way everyone around you seems
from the way everyone around you seems to learn but acceptance takes time so
to learn but acceptance takes time so
to learn but acceptance takes time so we’ll use my remaining minutes to talk
we’ll use my remaining minutes to talk
we’ll use my remaining minutes to talk about some steps you can take first self
about some steps you can take first self
about some steps you can take first self assess think about your basic strengths
assess think about your basic strengths
assess think about your basic strengths what are you good at what do you enjoy
what are you good at what do you enjoy
what are you good at what do you enjoy can you write word games or logic
can you write word games or logic
can you write word games or logic puzzles really quickly do you enjoy
puzzles really quickly do you enjoy
puzzles really quickly do you enjoy reading telling listening to stories are
reading telling listening to stories are
reading telling listening to stories are you an athlete that sort of thing
you an athlete that sort of thing
you an athlete that sort of thing remember those strengths and use them
remember those strengths and use them
remember those strengths and use them next more basics think about your
next more basics think about your
next more basics think about your weaknesses or what you perceive as
weaknesses or what you perceive as
weaknesses or what you perceive as weaknesses mine is maybe my ADHD I tend
weaknesses mine is maybe my ADHD I tend
weaknesses mine is maybe my ADHD I tend to lose focus on something pretty
to lose focus on something pretty
to lose focus on something pretty quickly here especially if I’m not
quickly here especially if I’m not
quickly here especially if I’m not interested in it but if I am interested
interested in it but if I am interested
interested in it but if I am interested in something like narrative based
in something like narrative based
in something like narrative based storytelling then I can do really well
storytelling then I can do really well
storytelling then I can do really well on the other hand math doesn’t interest
on the other hand math doesn’t interest
on the other hand math doesn’t interest me it tends to elude me I find it too
me it tends to elude me I find it too
me it tends to elude me I find it too abstract there’s no story there’s no
abstract there’s no story there’s no
abstract there’s no story there’s no flow so what can I do then if I’m
flow so what can I do then if I’m
flow so what can I do then if I’m interested in reading a book and not
interested in reading a book and not
interested in reading a book and not writing a math equation so I turn to
writing a math equation so I turn to
writing a math equation so I turn to step 2 which is to put up your defenses
step 2 which is to put up your defenses
step 2 which is to put up your defenses now I don’t mean get defensive and
now I don’t mean get defensive and
now I don’t mean get defensive and refuse to admit your weaknesses to
refuse to admit your weaknesses to
refuse to admit your weaknesses to anyone we’ll get to the telling people
anyone we’ll get to the telling people
anyone we’ll get to the telling people part don’t worry I think of it as a
part don’t worry I think of it as a
part don’t worry I think of it as a turn-based strategy game or you have a
turn-based strategy game or you have a
turn-based strategy game or you have a field of units and soldiers that are
field of units and soldiers that are
field of units and soldiers that are yours to command and you have the bigger
yours to command and you have the bigger
yours to command and you have the bigger bulkier tougher soldiers that can take
bulkier tougher soldiers that can take
bulkier tougher soldiers that can take out an enemy in one fell swoop and then
out an enemy in one fell swoop and then
out an enemy in one fell swoop and then you have the slightly squishier soldiers
you have the slightly squishier soldiers
you have the slightly squishier soldiers like the mages who can really pack a
like the mages who can really pack a
like the mages who can really pack a punch if they’re set in the right
punch if they’re set in the right
punch if they’re set in the right terrain but on their own they’re gonna
terrain but on their own they’re gonna
terrain but on their own they’re gonna get taken out so you pair the tougher
get taken out so you pair the tougher
get taken out so you pair the tougher soldiers with the squish soldiers so the
soldiers with the squish soldiers so the
soldiers with the squish soldiers so the tough defends the squish but the squish
tough defends the squish but the squish
tough defends the squish but the squish still get experience points and level up
still get experience points and level up
still get experience points and level up it’s cheesy but it works in video games
it’s cheesy but it works in video games
it’s cheesy but it works in video games and it’ll work in real life
and it’ll work in real life
and it’ll work in real life third and perhaps my most important step
third and perhaps my most important step
third and perhaps my most important step is to talk reach out don’t be afraid or
is to talk reach out don’t be afraid or
is to talk reach out don’t be afraid or ashamed tell your teachers your parents
ashamed tell your teachers your parents
ashamed tell your teachers your parents your students let them know that you’ve
your students let them know that you’ve
your students let them know that you’ve thought about the basics and the way
thought about the basics and the way
thought about the basics and the way that you learn and perhaps what you can
that you learn and perhaps what you can
that you learn and perhaps what you can do to balance out your strengths and
do to balance out your strengths and
do to balance out your strengths and weaknesses because if you let them know
weaknesses because if you let them know
weaknesses because if you let them know that you know yourself it’ll be easier
that you know yourself it’ll be easier
that you know yourself it’ll be easier to let other people know you too don’t
to let other people know you too don’t
to let other people know you too don’t be afraid or ashamed now where teachers
be afraid or ashamed now where teachers
be afraid or ashamed now where teachers are concerned that your students know
are concerned that your students know
are concerned that your students know when you’re available for non-judgmental
when you’re available for non-judgmental
when you’re available for non-judgmental learning specialty conversation many
learning specialty conversation many
learning specialty conversation many students are new to the concept of
students are new to the concept of
students are new to the concept of office hours or may be leery of coming
office hours or may be leery of coming
office hours or may be leery of coming to a teacher for outside help
to a teacher for outside help
to a teacher for outside help the best thing you can do is to let them
the best thing you can do is to let them
the best thing you can do is to let them know right off the bat
know right off the bat
know right off the bat that you’re available for these
that you’re available for these
that you’re available for these non-judgmental talks and accommodations
non-judgmental talks and accommodations
non-judgmental talks and accommodations it doesn’t have to be a big deal you
it doesn’t have to be a big deal you
it doesn’t have to be a big deal you don’t have to scream at the start of
don’t have to scream at the start of
don’t have to scream at the start of class and for those of you with learning
class and for those of you with learning
class and for those of you with learning differences just open the door
differences just open the door
differences just open the door start the conversation show respect
start the conversation show respect
start the conversation show respect normalize these talks reinforce the
normalize these talks reinforce the
normalize these talks reinforce the normality because learning outside the
normality because learning outside the
normality because learning outside the average range of learning methods is
average range of learning methods is
average range of learning methods is something that everyone needs to know
something that everyone needs to know
something that everyone needs to know and something students especially need
and something students especially need
and something students especially need to be reminded of fourth take initiative
to be reminded of fourth take initiative
to be reminded of fourth take initiative try your learning methods and your new
try your learning methods and your new
try your learning methods and your new support system by applying them to less
support system by applying them to less
support system by applying them to less pressing tasks can you find a place to
pressing tasks can you find a place to
pressing tasks can you find a place to store the clutter in your room by
store the clutter in your room by
store the clutter in your room by designing something artistic by using
designing something artistic by using
designing something artistic by using your artistic talent to make a new
your artistic talent to make a new
your artistic talent to make a new organizational model can you write a
organizational model can you write a
organizational model can you write a thousand word short story or essay as if
thousand word short story or essay as if
thousand word short story or essay as if it were a mathematical proof if you can
it were a mathematical proof if you can
it were a mathematical proof if you can or if you can’t you’ve learned something
or if you can’t you’ve learned something
or if you can’t you’ve learned something take low risk trial and error if you can
take low risk trial and error if you can
take low risk trial and error if you can and you if you work if it works or if it
and you if you work if it works or if it
and you if you work if it works or if it doesn’t work and if you feel productive
doesn’t work and if you feel productive
doesn’t work and if you feel productive or if you don’t feel productive then
or if you don’t feel productive then
or if you don’t feel productive then you’ll be able to find out how you learn
you’ll be able to find out how you learn
you’ll be able to find out how you learn I call the fifth step motivate hopefully
I call the fifth step motivate hopefully
I call the fifth step motivate hopefully once you’ve reached this step you’ll be
once you’ve reached this step you’ll be
once you’ve reached this step you’ll be motivated to accept your learning
motivated to accept your learning
motivated to accept your learning differences and see that you can change
differences and see that you can change
differences and see that you can change things and change your interests so that
things and change your interests so that
things and change your interests so that it better fits your learning environment
it better fits your learning environment
it better fits your learning environment but it’s a process even in this final
but it’s a process even in this final
but it’s a process even in this final step maybe once you reach this step
step maybe once you reach this step
step maybe once you reach this step you’ll realize that you need to self
you’ll realize that you need to self
you’ll realize that you need to self assess again or follow the other steps
assess again or follow the other steps
assess again or follow the other steps but this time a little differently maybe
but this time a little differently maybe
but this time a little differently maybe before you thought reality is simply
before you thought reality is simply
before you thought reality is simply reality life requires a certain adhering
reality life requires a certain adhering
reality life requires a certain adhering to the status quo that I may or may not
to the status quo that I may or may not
to the status quo that I may or may not fit and that comes with the territory of
fit and that comes with the territory of
fit and that comes with the territory of the work or study place but now
the work or study place but now
the work or study place but now self-motivated you’re willing to see
self-motivated you’re willing to see
self-motivated you’re willing to see that it’s not you or your learning
that it’s not you or your learning
that it’s not you or your learning habits that need to change
habits that need to change
habits that need to change it’s your mindset maybe you’ve even
it’s your mindset maybe you’ve even
it’s your mindset maybe you’ve even changed the status quo so that it fits
changed the status quo so that it fits
changed the status quo so that it fits you and your strengths but all this is
you and your strengths but all this is
you and your strengths but all this is pretty abstract without an example so I
pretty abstract without an example so I
pretty abstract without an example so I will turn to my own story and it’s a
will turn to my own story and it’s a
will turn to my own story and it’s a math story and a game designs
math story and a game designs
math story and a game designs because if you can’t tell that sort of
because if you can’t tell that sort of
because if you can’t tell that sort of my interest and I’ll tell you how I use
my interest and I’ll tell you how I use
my interest and I’ll tell you how I use these steps to make what I think is a
these steps to make what I think is a
these steps to make what I think is a pretty cool card game first I thought
pretty cool card game first I thought
pretty cool card game first I thought about what I was good at writing and
about what I was good at writing and
about what I was good at writing and reading I liked those things
reading I liked those things
reading I liked those things I also liked King Lear so I figured for
I also liked King Lear so I figured for
I also liked King Lear so I figured for my final game design project which is a
my final game design project which is a
my final game design project which is a course I took I would make a King Lear
course I took I would make a King Lear
course I took I would make a King Lear inspired card game downside game design
inspired card game downside game design
inspired card game downside game design requires a decent amount of math I am
requires a decent amount of math I am
requires a decent amount of math I am not very good at math like I said it’s
not very good at math like I said it’s
not very good at math like I said it’s too abstract so how could I make myself
too abstract so how could I make myself
too abstract so how could I make myself interested in this so I turned to step
interested in this so I turned to step
interested in this so I turned to step two and I tried to balance my King Lear
two and I tried to balance my King Lear
two and I tried to balance my King Lear interest with the math so I need three
interest with the math so I need three
interest with the math so I need three players and I want there to be 54 cards
players and I want there to be 54 cards
players and I want there to be 54 cards to a deck and there’s gonna be five
to a deck and there’s gonna be five
to a deck and there’s gonna be five types of cards for the players and then
types of cards for the players and then
types of cards for the players and then there’s going to be a non player nature
there’s going to be a non player nature
there’s going to be a non player nature character of King Lear who will also
character of King Lear who will also
character of King Lear who will also have five cards oh I thought to myself
have five cards oh I thought to myself
have five cards oh I thought to myself now I was interested in the math aspect
now I was interested in the math aspect
now I was interested in the math aspect so if I was interested in the King Lear
so if I was interested in the King Lear
so if I was interested in the King Lear aspect and the math aspect how could I
aspect and the math aspect how could I
aspect and the math aspect how could I balance them when I only understood one
balance them when I only understood one
balance them when I only understood one of them so I turned to step 3 and I
of them so I turned to step 3 and I
of them so I turned to step 3 and I reached out to my math TA for the course
reached out to my math TA for the course
reached out to my math TA for the course he started telling me something about
he started telling me something about
he started telling me something about constrained value settings and I
constrained value settings and I
constrained value settings and I remember holding out my hand to stop him
remember holding out my hand to stop him
remember holding out my hand to stop him and say can you teach it to me in a
and say can you teach it to me in a
and say can you teach it to me in a different way I’m good at logic puzzles
different way I’m good at logic puzzles
different way I’m good at logic puzzles not math can you teach this to me as if
not math can you teach this to me as if
not math can you teach this to me as if it were a story I half expected him to
it were a story I half expected him to
it were a story I half expected him to say I’m sure all shrugging maybe well
say I’m sure all shrugging maybe well
say I’m sure all shrugging maybe well game design requires a decent amount of
game design requires a decent amount of
game design requires a decent amount of this abstract math stuff you don’t like
this abstract math stuff you don’t like
this abstract math stuff you don’t like maybe you’re just not cut out for this
maybe you’re just not cut out for this
maybe you’re just not cut out for this but instead he said okay if you were
but instead he said okay if you were
but instead he said okay if you were going to take a stained glass window and
going to take a stained glass window and
going to take a stained glass window and paint it with a limited amount of colors
paint it with a limited amount of colors
paint it with a limited amount of colors and you wanted to have it so that no
and you wanted to have it so that no
and you wanted to have it so that no windowpane touched the same pane of the
windowpane touched the same pane of the
windowpane touched the same pane of the same color which pane would you paint
same color which pane would you paint
same color which pane would you paint first and what color would it be here we
first and what color would it be here we
first and what color would it be here we go to step 4 applying these learning
go to step 4 applying these learning
go to step 4 applying these learning methods and support system to a low risk
methods and support system to a low risk
methods and support system to a low risk environment like colors and windows
environment like colors and windows
environment like colors and windows oh I said you would paint the one in the
oh I said you would paint the one in the
oh I said you would paint the one in the middle because it touches everything and
middle because it touches everything and
middle because it touches everything and you would paint at the amount you had
you would paint at the amount you had
you would paint at the amount you had least of exactly he said now you
least of exactly he said now you
least of exactly he said now you understand constrained value settings so
understand constrained value settings so
understand constrained value settings so we’re going to take a card that affects
we’re going to take a card that affects
we’re going to take a card that affects all the other cards and we’re going to
all the other cards and we’re going to
all the other cards and we’re going to see which card is the most powerful of
see which card is the most powerful of
see which card is the most powerful of these Mathis map of cards and we’re
these Mathis map of cards and we’re
these Mathis map of cards and we’re gonna sign of value to it let’s call it
gonna sign of value to it let’s call it
gonna sign of value to it let’s call it X and so on and so forth until wow we
X and so on and so forth until wow we
X and so on and so forth until wow we had an equation that equaled 54 cards we
had an equation that equaled 54 cards we
had an equation that equaled 54 cards we plugged the values into a calculator and
plugged the values into a calculator and
plugged the values into a calculator and he said ok you’re good to go I didn’t
he said ok you’re good to go I didn’t
he said ok you’re good to go I didn’t try doing it on my own
try doing it on my own
try doing it on my own so we plugged them in we got an equation
so we plugged them in we got an equation
so we plugged them in we got an equation so a little less scary than I had feared
so a little less scary than I had feared
so a little less scary than I had feared it’s that one in bold at the bottom if
it’s that one in bold at the bottom if
it’s that one in bold at the bottom if you can see it but it’s pretty simple so
you can see it but it’s pretty simple so
you can see it but it’s pretty simple so now that the rest was up to me I had
now that the rest was up to me I had
now that the rest was up to me I had figured out what I was good at I had
figured out what I was good at I had
figured out what I was good at I had reached out to my teacher I had balance
reached out to my teacher I had balance
reached out to my teacher I had balance my strengths and weaknesses and we had
my strengths and weaknesses and we had
my strengths and weaknesses and we had found an alternative and now it was on
found an alternative and now it was on
found an alternative and now it was on me so I made a team that worked I got an
me so I made a team that worked I got an
me so I made a team that worked I got an A in the course and on the project I put
A in the course and on the project I put
A in the course and on the project I put it in my portfolio and something that
it in my portfolio and something that
it in my portfolio and something that was ordinarily have sent me into a panic
was ordinarily have sent me into a panic
was ordinarily have sent me into a panic was now taken notice of by schools in
was now taken notice of by schools in
was now taken notice of by schools in California in my portfolio this summer
California in my portfolio this summer
California in my portfolio this summer I’m going to be working as a summer
I’m going to be working as a summer
I’m going to be working as a summer research assistant at one of these game
research assistant at one of these game
research assistant at one of these game design labs and it wasn’t because I
design labs and it wasn’t because I
design labs and it wasn’t because I tried accepting math for its own merits
tried accepting math for its own merits
tried accepting math for its own merits I didn’t try fitting myself into a
I didn’t try fitting myself into a
I didn’t try fitting myself into a certain expected category now this is
certain expected category now this is
certain expected category now this is just an example but I hope you see how
just an example but I hope you see how
just an example but I hope you see how the process works and you can apply it
the process works and you can apply it
the process works and you can apply it to your own lives and create your own
to your own lives and create your own
to your own lives and create your own anecdotes if there’s nothing shameful
anecdotes if there’s nothing shameful
anecdotes if there’s nothing shameful about learning these these steps and
about learning these these steps and
about learning these these steps and these processes because there’s nothing
these processes because there’s nothing
these processes because there’s nothing shameful about knowing yourself in the
shameful about knowing yourself in the
shameful about knowing yourself in the way you work self assess defend talk
way you work self assess defend talk
way you work self assess defend talk experiment motivate when you learn the
experiment motivate when you learn the
experiment motivate when you learn the way you learn you’ll be on the road to
way you learn you’ll be on the road to
way you learn you’ll be on the road to self-acceptance thank you
self-acceptance thank you
self-acceptance thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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